Previously Mr Graham worked for major independent loss adjusters Ashworth Mairs Group as a surveyor/adjuster on subsidence claims, and before that worked long term as a senior surveyor for Wolton Surveyors and Valuers.

In his new role he will be working as part of the Hodge Equity Release team managing the portfolio of existing and proposed residential properties used as security for one of Hodge Equity Release's schemes.

Mr Graham said, "The post requires significant input with regard to the condition and repair, insurance and value aspects of the properties.

" I am sure that my long term surveying, loss adjusting and valuation experience will be useful in helping to manage the properties efficiently, protecting the company's assets and ultimately having an impact on company productivity."

Jon King, director of Hodge Equity Release said, "Over recent years our business has seen huge growth, as the equity release industry continues to grow in popularity with the UK older population. This increase has seen the housing stock managed by the company grow significantly and hence the requirement for the company to appoint a property manager to administer this activity."

Elwa role for conference venue director THE director of a leading Welsh conference venue has been appointed to the Mid Wales Regional committee of workplace training and education quango Elwa.

Susan Jones, 46, became director of Gregynog, near Newtown, nine months ago and is responsible for managing the operational and strategic development of the University of Wales's residential conference and study centre, which has a staff of 40.

She joins Elwa's 12-member Mid Wales regional committee, which is chaired by James Gibson-Watt.

Her previous 20 plus years experience has been in hospitality management, working at the University of Wales, Bangor, where she became general manager of Croeso Welcome Bangor with a workforce of 230 staff.

A former vice-president of the Institute of Management in Gwynedd, she achieved an MBA through the Open University last year and is a non-executive director of Careers Wales Powys.

She said, "The reason I want to work with Elwa is because of my commitment to the ethos of people development and to opening up opportunities to people who may have missed their first chance of learning and are looking for a new direction.

"Elwa has such a broad remit and the possibilities are enormous.

"We need to ensure that education and training are relevant and that there are mechanisms for joined up thinking between different types of provision.

"The initial challenge is to look at the structure required for the future and to make sure that the needs of our customers are fully investigated and met in the operational plan objectives."

She is overseeing exciting plans for the development of Gregynog as part of her mission to establish the magnificent country house as the top conference centre in Mid Wales to support its academic function.

Journalist joins council team THE Vale of Glamorgan Council has strengthened its communications team with the appointment of a new member of staff.

Anna Humphries, 23, has joined the council as communications co-ordinator.

She was previously employed as a general reporter with Cardiff-based press agency the Wales News Service.

She is a graduate of Cardiff University and gained a postgraduate diploma from the university's Centre for Journalism Studies.

Her new role at the Vale of Glamorgan Council will involve working on initiatives to promote the activities of the council, its employees and its residents.

Her first projects will include the launch of a new customer care strategy to help the council deal more effectively with feedback from members of the public and the further development of the council's internal communications strategy.

She will also write for the council's new community newspaper Vale Waves, which is distributed to every home in the area.

Vale of Glamorgan Council communications head Estelle Hitchon said, "At a time when the Vale is expanding its communications function and extending its remit to be at the heart of the business, I am delighted to welcome Anna to the team.

"She brings with her not only great journalistic experience but a fresh perspective to a team which prides itself on thinking outside the local government box."

Financial on the move THEO KORTLAND has been appointed managing director of GMAC, the multi-brand automotive financing arm of General Motors and a leading provider of financial solutions for car buyers.

GMAC provides financial services for Vauxhall, Saab and Daewoo dealers and their customers as well as through its consumer finance company On:line Finance.

Based in Cardiff, Mr Kortland will be leading an aggressive growth programme for the company, focusing on increasing volumes for all three manufacturer brands and On:line Finance, supporting the retailer networks and leveraging GMAC UK's commercial lending capability.